Tim Benz stories, Page 201
Tim Benz: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss Penguins-Hurricanes matchup, Brassard trade
Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena. Brian Metzer joins us from the Penguins Radio Network to preview the matchup. It`s his weekly Sided.co hockey appearance. We also examine the positives and negatives of the Derick Brassard trade. How good can Nick Bjugstad and Jared...
Tim Benz: Hines Ward is right – Steelers are now the Bengals, must become the Patriots
Last week I made this statement about the Pittsburgh Steelers. That thought was met with predictable fan response from Steelers Nation. • "You`re just "spitting hot takes!" • Fake news! • You`re short! You never played in the NFL! What do you know? That last...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss how the Steelers could be more like the Patriots
In this week`s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins us to recap the New England Patriots win in the Super Bowl. How can the Pittsburgh Steelers better emulate what New England does? Also, how does this victory further entrench the accomplishments of the Brady-Belichick era? Two of...
Tim Benz: Has Antonio Brown changed his mind about Pittsburgh?
Has Antonio Brown changed his mind about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh? The Steelers wide receiver continues to show that he is not bipolar. He`s tripolar. Maybe quadpolar — if that`s a thing. If it isn`t yet, it will be as soon as Brown is diagnosed. Now — after weeks...
First Call: Could Steelers still tag Le’Veon Bell?, Alan Faneca stays strong, Michael Keaton tweets
In Monday`s "First Call," Michael Keaton`s dubious Pittsburgh Steelers tweet during the Super Bowl. Would the Steelers really transition tag Le`Veon Bell? And Antonio Brown may be changing his mind about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh. Super Bowl bombshell Before the New England Patriots plunged the rest of the NFL...
Tim Benz: Some Penguins hockey karma — a Tugnutt scored on a Primeau
Here`s one of those "hockey is a small world" kind of stories — with an ironic twist that I hope makes Pittsburgh Penguins fans smile. I was doing ESPN Pittsburgh play-by-play for the Robert Morris hockey team as they played Sacred Heart this weekend. One of the Pioneers` leading point...
Tim Benz: After 5 straight losses, how does Pitt’s Jeff Capel get his rebuild back on track?
So now what? You can`t blame Pitt basketball fans — and even the program itself — if it has that question at this juncture of its mammoth rebuild. First-year head coach Jeff Capel received — and deserved — high marks for the initial stages of the salvage mission. His energy,...
First call: Terrelle Pryor wants to play for Steelers
In Friday`s "First Call," would Terrelle Pryor be a fit with the Steelers? Tom Brady is campaigning for Ty Law. And the Jets may not want Le`Veon Bell after all. Well, if AB is leaving... Jeannette`s Terrelle Pryor is one of the greatest players in WPIAL history. Now he wants...
Tim Benz, Jonathan Bombulie break down Penguins, ponder Derick Brassard’s future
Check back here weekly for Friday Penguins chats with Jonathan Bombulie, our Penguins beat writer at the Trib. The Penguins get another last place team at PPG Paints Arena on Friday night when Ottawa visits. Can Mike Sullivan`s team finally take care of business against lesser competition after losing eight...
Steelers’ Antonio Brown does some confusing interviews at Super Bowl
Antonio Brown is speaking again publicly. So that`s a recipe for disaster. Forget the big interview reveal, Brown is starting to do a bunch of little ones. Although Brown is not saying much. Mainly because I don`t know how capable he is of doing so. For those thinking there has...
Football footnotes: Tim Benz breaks down smart plays for Super Bowl betting
I had a pretty good NFL playoffs as far as making picks. I won`t say who. I won`t say where. I won`t say how much. But I`ll just say I went 8-4. So stick with me, kid. You`ll make some money. Here`s my advice on the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl. Take...
Tim Benz: The definitive all-Steelers Super Bowl roster
Super Sunday is this weekend. Without the Pittsburgh Steelers. Again. But that doesn`t mean we haven`t had our fair share. Eight of `em, in fact. So, it`s time for us to do what we do best in Pittsburgh when the Super Bowl doesn`t involve the Steelers. We just flash back...
First call: Jerome Bettis dishes on Antonio Brown drama; Pittsburgh loves Pro Bowl
"First Call" for Wednesday features a state of the Steelers from Jerome Bettis, a soccer assault, Pitt problems and Pro Bowl ratings that were stunningly high in Pittsburgh. The Bus on A.B. On Fox, Steelers great Jerome Bettis referred to the 2018 club as a disappointment. He described it as...
As they prepare for Penguins, a look at what makes Lightning so dominant
The Tampa Bay Lightning come to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night with the best record in the Eastern Conference. By far. They are the easy choice as Stanley Cup front-runners at this point. The Bolts have 76 points. That`s 13 better than anyone else in the conference. The have the best...
U mad, bro? Readers rail on Steelers chaos, Antonio Brown, Pirates payroll
This week`s "U mad, bro?" is all about emotional transference. Y`all are angry about the Pirates payroll, Antonio Brown`s behavior and the Steelers` chaotic failures. And instead of dealing with it yourselves, you are taking it out on me. Poor, sweet, innocent me. We open with Nick and his ad...
Tim Benz: Penguins have to fix current players before acquiring new ones
In recent years, the path to Penguins improvement during the season has been clear. In 2016, it was to fire the coach and improve speed throughout the lineup. So the team swapped out Mike Johnston for Mike Sullivan and traded for the likes of Carl Hagelin, Justin Schultz and Trevor...
First call: Bettis still wants to be Steelers RB coach; Malkin’s minuses piling up
Wednesday`s "First Call" features Evgeni Malkin`s issues. Jerome Bettis thinks he`s getting a new job with the Steelers. A few WPIAL stars are on display at the Super Bowl. And the cost of washing off "Steeler stank." Who wants to tell him? Over the weekend Jerome Bettis posted a poll...
Penguins’ issues vs. bad teams, Evgeni Malkin’s struggles persist
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for our weekly hockey podcast. The Penguins played a stinker in their first home game back from a week off. New Jersey beat them 6-3. We talk about Evgeni Malkin`s struggles, the team`s inability to beat bad teams and another short-handed goal...
Tim Benz: Actions speak louder than words, and no one can hear the Pirates
At PiratesFest over the weekend, Pirates President Frank Coonelly gave Pittsburgh baseball fans a rah-rah speech. It appears his goal was to build on some late season momentum from the club, which got itself above .500 for just the fourth time since 1992. I`d suggest the time to do that...
Tim Benz: Robey-Coleman’s Patriots yap brings back bad Steelers memories
If you think you`ve heard the name Nickell Robey-Coleman before, you have. He`s the Los Angeles Rams defensive back who was deemed to have had perfectly legal coverage on this play in the NFC Championship Game. Like I said. Perfectly legal. Not a hint of...
First call: Antonio Brown wants to be a Packer?; JuJu recruiting Jets star
In today`s “First Call,” Antonio Brown is flirting with a team besides the 49ers. JuJu Smith-Schuster is trying to woo a player to Pittsburgh ... even though that player can`t leave. And a WPIAL star is staying put at Penn State. So what are you trying to say, A.B.? After...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins’ return as 2nd half begins
Well hockey fans of Pittsburgh, you wanted it. Now, you got it. The Penguins are about to become Topic A in Pittsburgh again. The all-star break is over, the Steelers are done and we won`t see baseball until late March. So it`s almost all hockey, all the time around these...
Tim Benz: Terrible weather, Jason Witten’s trophy gaffe and other Pro Bowl hilarity
Sunday`s Pro Bowl was its usual comedy show of listless play, halfhearted blocking, quarter-speed tackling and zero sincerity. It was like a Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl in Bethel Park with less effort and more rain. For the record, the AFC won 26-7. Let`s hope the NFL never forces the AFC squad...
Tim Benz: Can Steelers still be considered ‘best ever’ if Patriots win Super Bowl?
The present state of the Steelers is a mess. They`re a non-playoff team with a dysfunctional locker room, a defense that can`t get the job done consistently, a neutered coach and an owner in a state of denial over how bad things have gotten. The future doesn`t look so good...
First call: Steelers’ Cam Heyward says T.J. Watt could be better than J.J.
Friday`s "First Call" features a look the Watt brothers and which one is better. Pitt looks to get back in the win column. And Duquesne is red hot. T.J. > J.J.? Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said Thursday that linebacker T.J. Watt could end up being better than J.J. Watt....
